LNER, Hitachi IEP Bi-Mode Class 800/1, ‘Azuma’ Five Car Train Pack – Era 11
On 18 March, 2016, Sir Richard Branson unveiled the first Class 800/1 unit to be branded in Virgin Trains East Coast ‘Azuma’ livery at Kings Cross Station.
Since then, the Hitachi fleet of IEP test trains, based at the new Doncaster Carr Depot, have completed thousands of hours of testing over the ECML and while Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) have been replaced as franchise holders by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), ‘Azuma’ five and nine car sets are due to commence public services on the East Coast Main Line during early 2019.
